BFPA 60th Anniversary Facts #10, 11

25 Jul 2019

1993: Moved from London to Chipping Norton

1994: New BFPA offices officially opened by Rt Hon Douglas Hurd CBE on 11.3.94

AHEM’s first home was a rented office at 167 Victoria Street in London, courtesy of Continental Trade Consultants Limited! However, within a few months the first true base for the Association, together with brass plaque, was 38/40 Eccleston Square. In 1962 a growing membership and staff led to a further move to 54 Warwick Square where a showroom was used to display members’ products. Rising costs forced the next move to 192-198 Vauxhall Bridge Road (also the old London HQ of Norgren). COMMET, was formed in 1986 and, coinciding with BFPA’s end of lease in Vauxhall Bridge Road, led to a move to Artillery Row in 1987 alongside four other associations. Within two years the landlord’s need for refurbishment led to a further move to Carlyle House back in Vauxhall Bridge Road.

Stability was at last achieved in 1993 when the BFPA moved to Chipping Norton, close to the premises of the then BFPA President Phil Hopkins of HYDAC, with the new building being officially opened by local MP the Rt Hon Douglas Hurd CBE on 11 March 1994.